The car collection of couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya is the nation’s most awaited auction. As seen in their previous interview with Julius Babao, the vehicles they own—well, owned—are some of the dream cars of many enthusiasts.

Their names surfaced after being identified by a whistleblower as among the contractors involved in the Department of Public Works and Highways flood control projects. They are allegedly involved in bloated project costs, rigged bidding, and ghost projects.

The public auction led by the Bureau of Customs is receiving strong support and assistance from multiple government agencies.

During the opening ceremony yesterday, BOC commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno expressed that improvements are expected in the BOC, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Finance now that DOF acting secretary Frederick Go is heading the department.

Nepomuceno also stated that the agency has implemented new precautions to prevent the illegal importation of vehicles. He mentioned that the Discayas are only the beginning of their crackdown. He is currently in talks with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure regarding 14 other construction companies, which he said will also be investigated.

ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. reassured the public that everything would be done transparently and according to the rules and regulations.

Land Transportation Office assistant secretary Markus Lacanilao stated that LTO supports the BOC in the auction, and opposes corruption and illegal importation of vehicles. They will provide support for the registration and smooth processing of the transfer of ownership and change of plates for the winning bidders.

The current DPWH secretary, Vince Dizon, was also present, hinting that this is only the start, and the funds that were embezzled will be returned to the government.

Ten companies registered for the auction, but only eight attended. Some businesses that wanted to participate had submitted their entries late or misunderstood the instructions, which explains the low number of bidders.

Two Mercedes-Benz models—a 2019 G500 Brabus with a winning bid of P15,500,000, and a 2022 G63 AMG with a winning bid of P15,611,710—were sold to Simplex Industrial Corporation. Meanwhile, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator L, with a winning bid of P7,100,000, was sold to first-time bidder Lesentrell Jewelries.

The BOC clarified that the winners are not yet allowed to drive the units immediately, as they still have to process the OR/CR. With the assistance of the LTO, they ensured that the change of ownership and new plates would be streamlined.

There were no interested bidders for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia, the 2022 Toyota Tundra, the 2022 Bentley Bentayga, and the 2023 Rolls-Royce Cullinan (which famously came with two umbrellas). These four cars are considered failed bids.

The BOC mentioned that they will have another go with the failed bids at a later date. The goal is to have more preparation and clearer instructions for the prospects to join the bidding process.

“Those vehicles that were subject to a failed bidding, the committee will reconvene,” Nepomuceno clarified. “We will recompute the figures—the floor price.”

The BOC remitted a total of P38,211,710—more than a third of the expected overall floor price—to the Bureau of the Treasury. Whether the government will use the funds properly or not, only time will tell.

Mixed reactions are given by netizens, with some arguing that the gathered funds could return to the pockets of corrupt politicians rather than the country’s coffers. Meanwhile, others are putting government sectors in hot water for their negligence regarding the illegal car importation.

This might be the first few steps, but there are still many cracks left, and to fill them back up and seal them, real change will be necessary. Words are no longer enough; transparency and concrete results matter most in regaining the public’s trust.